Trial date set for Duke lacrosse witness (DukeLax Cabbie to be Nifonged)

Raleigh News and Observer ^ | August 15, 2006 | Staff

[abb]

DURHAM, N.C. -- A cab driver who has supported an alibi offered by one of the three Duke lacrosse players charged with rape had his own court appearance Tuesday for a larceny charge.

Moezeldin Elmostafa, 37, appeared briefly before a Durham County District Court judge who set a trial date of Aug. 29. Prosecutors also changed the charge against Elmostafa to aiding and abetting misdemeanor larcency.

Elmostafa was arrested in May after he surfaced as a potential alibi witness for Reade Seligmann, one of three players charged with raping a woman at an off-campus party the night of March 13.

The 2003 warrant accused Elmostafa of stealing five purses worth about $250 from a Durham department store. Elmostafa denies the charge, and has said he helped store security locate a woman after he picked her up from the store and drove her home. The woman later pleaded guilty to larceny.

Durham prosecutors said in May the warrant for Elmostafa's arrest was discovered in a routine background check of witnesses in the Duke lacrosse case.

Mostafa has said Seligmann, of Essex Fells, N.J., called for a ride at 12:14 a.m. on March 14, and was picked up five minutes later. The defense has argued those times help establish that Seligmann left the party without having enough time to participate in the 30-minute assault described by the accuser. Seligmann's attorney has also presented cell phone, ATM and dorm keycard records to help establish that timeline.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

That would be the truthful headline.

[abb]

Pinging with new information.

Duke Lacrosse Trial Could Be Longest In Durham History
http://www.wral.com/news/9694930/detail.html

Aug. 17 Recommendation For Exceptional Case Status
http://www.wral.com/news/9694930/detail.html

[Mike Nifong]

Thanks abb !

[Ken H]

Don't forget to stop by http://recallnifong.blogspot.com/ from time to time to see how the Recall Nifong - Vote Cheek campaign is progressing.

[CondorFlight]

Anybody know what happened today in the case of the boyfriend/driver?

Has anybody asked Joseph Neff to find out?

It should be public record--get the case # and then phone the court and ask for the disposition of the case, and who was the judge. (In any case, Neff should be apprised of this--as should everybody else, if there is more intimidation involved.)

[jennyd]

That's CTV for you.
Run like a Gulag.

[Jrabbit]

Thanks for the ping, abb

Trying to get all caught up!

Where's Howlin? Haven't seen her around...

[DvdMom]

Thanks again for the info

abb your the greatest :)

[Dukie07]

Shouldn't that read: Exceptionally Stupid Case?

Anyway, thanks for the ping abb (you're A+ in my book!)

I guess I'm just a little confuzzled how anyone could expect this case to go six months+. Seems to me like it shouldn't even go to trial. That said, this is good news, I hope.

[jennyd]

Just reciting all the stories told by Precious could take 6 months.

[Ready4Freddy]

Separate URL for Aug. 17 Recommendation For Exceptional Case Status - http://www.wral.com/slideshow/news/9696600/detail.html

[Mike Nifong]

$$$$$$$$$$$. . AV's Boyfriend . . $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


Does anyone see a Pattern here?

The AV's reported Boyfriend, the source of the semen in the AV - his trial was POSTPONED for the Second time!

Next trial date November 9th

_

[Dukie07]

Let me explain that "I hope" statement. Someone somewhere many moons ago posted something to the effect that somebody referred to Nifong as a "snake." {vauge references, I realize....sorry) So, I'm just sayin' I don't trust Mikey any farther than I could throw him...

[jennyd]

2 days after an election.
LOL.

[Dukie07]

[Dukie07 slaps forehead] Duh! Of course. You're absolutely right. Matter of fact, by the time she gets to the stand, she might have "remembered" a few more!

[Dukie07]

Sure would like to know if this is the norm for Durham. Maybe you have to have 127 or so arrests before you get a speedy trial......

[Dukie07]

Seems Dukie07 has to keep slappin' her head.... AFTER the election. Interesting point, jennyd.

[Dukie07]

Interesting that Mr. Nifong has told us for quite some time that the trial would not take place until Spring 2007...

[Dukie07]

FWIW - I'm an auditor. Trust is not something I give; it's something you earn with me.

[Ready4Freddy]

AFAIK it's still scheduled for Spring, 2007. Exceptional Case Status doesn't change the date of the trial, it changes the manner in which the case management by the court is done.

Interesting that Mr. Nifong has told us for quite some time that the trial would not take place until Spring 2007...